Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments?

by Dexx
9 replies
Just a quick poll/question for the offline marketers, I'm curious as to whether the majority of us prefer to complete services then invoice after, collect payment in advance, or some variant of the two.

What do you prefer to do?

How many of you actually use merchant accounts for payment processing, and how many just use paypal?
#attn #collect #marketers #offline #payments
  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    Credit cards are a must, and particularly in the US, American Express - because they have such a huge presence in the small business market and so many owners use them to manage cash and accounting.

    I ask for 50% on the start of a particular project and 50% is invoiced and due 30 days following the completion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jagged
    I replied here instead of the survey because my payment options vary by service rendered...

    50% up-front for any webdesign....Balance invoiced, due 30 days following completion...
    For Any One Time Set-ups...it's 100% up-front...
    For any monthly recurring payments...I invoice...due on the 1st of the month...

    I accept payments by:
    Company Check (7 days clear)
    All Major Credit Cards (POS)
    PayPal

    Good luck,
    Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author Kyle Tully
    I always get paid up-front.

    Check, Paypal or direct deposit.
    Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    Deposit up front and the rest on completion.

    I've found that many businesses in Europe avoid Amex like the plague because they charge more per transaction that most other card companies. I use an Amex in most countries too but sometimes they're refused, so I always try to accept payment in the most convenient form for the client/customer because I know what a pain it is to get messed about.

    Andy
    Signature

    nothing to see here.

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  • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
    Yes, ALWAYS try to get the full payment up front if you can. You should even offer up to a 10% discount for full payment up front. (This is a standard practice for most companies, to encourage complete payment up front.)

    If you can't get all of it up front, as others have mentioned, accept no less than 50%. Trust me, you don't want to have to do collections, it's really not fun.
    Signature
    "When you do something exactly wrong, you always turn up something."
    -Andy Warhol
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  • Profile picture of the author DukeNasty
    I generally never ask for 100% up front? Why, because my fee is large and my clients generally do not pay 100% up front for any other type of big ticket consulting work. 50% upfront, and the balance is due upon completion. I am working on several opportunities now that are 12 month contracts where the client is essentially outsourcing their entire marketing effort to my firm so there will be an initial payment (not likely to be 50%) and a monthly retainer. Big money to be made here.

    E.
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    • Profile picture of the author BrashImpact
      Dexx,
      i am a firm believer in payment in full up front.
      we do not want to have any account recieveables,
      and it also keeps us in the drivers seat at all times.

      I voted for payment in full, the service we deliver is
      so strong, very few other business's can compete
      with the delivery and results.

      Regards,
      Robert Nelson
      "The Maverick Motivator"
      Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author TopLevelGeek
    If I am consulting for a Brick and Mortar business in the area that I actually visit face to face I do accept checks, mostly because that is what small businesses are used to. If I am doing some small one time work (like installing a CMS) I ask for payment upfront.

    If I am doing any type of SEO I usually ask for 50% up front and the remainder when the client ranks for keywords (that I have suggested) Though I never guarantee a certain ranking, only that I have done the work.
    Signature
    Tyler Horn, LCSW
    I am a child and family therapist, and internet marketer who specializes in small targeted internet presences for people in the helping professions. If your mission is to enhance the lives of the people around you PM me
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    • Profile picture of the author Ed Gibbs
      Personally, I would look at several factors: what you're offering the business, what the price is, how long that business has been around, and how known they are in the area.

      If it's a well-known local business, perhaps one that I've used in the past and know to be reliable and trustworthy, I may very well say "you can pay me as soon as you see what I do and are satisfied with the results." On the other hand, if I consider a business to be riskier and less likely of actually paying the bill, I would ask for a portion (probably 50%) up-front.

      I'd never ask any business to pay 100% up-front unless I myself had a well-known name in the community. Asking someone to pay $5K up-front for Web design and other services could be suspicious.

      It's all about managing risk wisely. It's difficult to have to sue a client to get the funds.
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